My Honest Review of the FreeStyle Libre 2
The FreeStyle Libre 2 has been an incredible addition to my weight loss and health journey, even though I am not diabetic. I initially purchased it out of curiosity, I wanted to understand how my body responds to insulin, given its key role in fat storage. Since this monitor tracks glucose rather than insulin directly, I wasn’t t sure how useful it would be, but I have been pleasantly surprised.
Why I Chose the FreeStyle Libre 2
I knew that food affects blood sugar, but I wanted to see the real-time impact of what I was eating. If a certain meal spiked my glucose levels, it meant my body was likely producing a lot of insulin to bring it back down. Since insulin helps store fat, I wanted to avoid unnecessary spikes and keep my glucose more stable. The FreeStyle Libre 2 gave me exactly that insight. I could finally see which foods worked for my body and which ones didn’t.
Easy to Use, with Minor Connection Issues
One of the best things about this device is how easy it is to use. The sensor sticks to the back of my arm and lasts for 14 days, continuously monitoring my glucose levels. It’s painless to apply and small enough that I forget it’s even there most of the time. I check my readings by scanning the sensor with my phone, which updates almost instantly.
That being said, I did experience a few connection issues. A couple of times, my phone lost sync with the sensor, but I always got a warning when that happened. Reconnecting was simple just placing my phone near the sensor again fixed the issue in seconds. It wasn’t a major inconvenience, but it’s something to keep in mind.
More Than Just Food: The Unexpected Insights
What surprised me the most was how much more than just food affects glucose levels. I expected to see spikes after high-carb meals, but I didn’t realise how much sleep, stress, and even exercise played a role.
Poor Sleep On nights when I didn’t sleep well, my glucose levels were noticeably higher the next day. It made sense after I thought about it lack of sleep increases stress hormones like cortisol, which can raise blood sugar.
Stress & Cortisol Speaking of cortisol, I noticed that stressful days led to higher readings, even when I ate well. This was a huge eye-opener for me, showing just how much stress management matters.
Exercise Effects Certain workouts lowered my glucose, but intense exercise sometimes made it spike. I learned to time my meals around workouts to keep things stable.
Final Thoughts Is It Worth It?
Absolutely. The FreeStyle Libre 2 has helped me fine-tune my health in ways I did not expect. It gave me peace of mind, showing me that my glucose levels were generally stable, and helped me optimize my meals, workouts, and stress management.
If you re someone who wants to understand how your body reacts to different lifestyle factors not just food this is a fantastic tool. Just make sure to consult your doctor before making any major changes. For me, it has been completely worth it!